30.9 km, 7.15 kph, 802 km so far. A big day today – over the Kunzum La at 4550m. Highest so far and, because I’m not planning on the Manali-Leh ride with its 5300m passes, this will be the highest of the trip. It’s uphill so this is probably the last I see of Brian …
Sunday 20th July 2014, Kaza-Lossar An entertaining start to the day: I went to the German bakery for eggs, toast and coffee, and to pick up some bread rolls and yak cheese for lunch on the road. While at the counter to pick up my cheese, I heard noise and the shuffling of chairs behind …
Friday 18th – Saturday 19th July 2014. Kaza, Ki and Kibber. We had all planned a sight-seeing day for Friday. Brian and Josie, who did not know each other before the start of their ride only a couple of weeks ago, decided that they didn’t really want to know each other any longer, so Josie …
Thursday 17th July, 2014. 48.6 km, 9.37 kph, 708 km so far. Another splendid day! A mani wall; keep left. Two men resting for lunch at the side of the road invite me for a cup of chai. Why not? I’m sure the water is boiled ;) Then back on the ‘road.’ It’s threatening to …
Tuesday 15th July 2014, Nako-Tabo The most pleasant day so far. It was initially steep up to the Malling Slide area (notorious for regular landslides and road closures), a climb of around 200m vertical up to 3800m. The last section was steep sand and rocks, not rideable, but (which the exception of a particularly offensive …
Thursday 10th July 2014, Kalpa – Dubling 76.9 km, 9.7 kph, 559 km to date I ate breakfast in Kalpa and coasted down to Reckong Peo. The internet cafe which had had no access the previous day was available for business now and I fired off an email home to let those that cared that …
Late start, about 10:30, after a breakfast in town (the cook from the Mehta Resort had gone to visit his family in Rampur for a few days). Straightforward downhill to Kircham, much easier than on the way up! Back in the Sutlej valley, the road followed the north side of the river with a nice …
This is my fifth day here; time to get back on the road. After my dismal performance on the ‘ride’ up to Sangla, I had a very low-key day, resting up around my hotel. My legs are sore. On the next day, I wandered around Sangla. Not much to write home about; typical small Indian …
30th June, Jeori – Tapri Day 8 riding Distance: 44.9 km, Average Speed: 9.7 kph, Total: 358 km On the road at 8:30, after a hotel breakfast of parantha and chai. Climbing on a good surface. There is more evidence of hydro-electric projects. These projects are criticised by the authors of the standard travelers’ guidebooks …
I left the hotel at 7:00 am and rode (wobbled, more like, now that I had a load again) up to Chail, where I stopped for two cups of chai at the first place open. There were a few people about and the town had a pleasant relaxed feel to it. Setting off again, I …
Day 1 riding: Chandigarh – ? Wednesday June 18th, 30.9 km, 8.5 kph (impressive, eh?) It was hardly a crack of dawn start but I’d been making use of The Altius’ wifi until the early morning and wasn’t ready for a five o’clock alarm. I started off riding, the first time with a full load, …
I hadn’t really decided what to do with my bike for the week in London; It wouldn’t be easy to get it across the city using public transport so leaving it in left luggage was a viable option. Another was riding it to Greenwich, an idea that I had previously discarded as not too smart after …